Rachael Ray Reflects on Her Talk Show Ending and What She's Most Proud Of (Exclusive)

etonline.com:

Rachael Ray is saying goodbye to her talk show. In an interview with ET's Rachel Smith, the 54-year-old TV personality looks back on 's 17-year run, reveals why she's not sad to see it end, and looks ahead to the future.When Ray began her show back 2006, she tells ET she «of course» didn't think that it'd go on for nearly two decades.«Most things last a couple of years and you're lucky for that and then you move on,» she says. «But I'm super grateful.

I think the reason we were there is because we have such a great group of people that just kept it real and helped me, let people see themselves as much as celebrities.»And that, Ray says, is what she's most proud of from her show's run.«The thing I'm proudest of is that people see themselves [on the show],» she says. «We try and show people how extraordinary their neighbor is and how every person can change the world, and the course of the world, from children to people in their 80s that just do things for their communities that blow your mind.

That's what I care about the most.»Still, welcoming celebrities on was fun too, no one more so than Michael J. Fox, who was «without a question» Ray's favorite celebrity guest.«I love his family, his wife, his kids, and that's the most optimistic, coolest person that will just shut you up.

He is so cool,» Ray gushes. "… I'm just so blessed to know a person that's that optimistic. That is the entire point of everything I try to do in life.